The meaning of the name Oliver dates back to old England and the Norse word, Aleifr. This name means ‘ancestor’s descendants’ and is the earliest version of the name Oliver.
Oliver also has roots in Latin and France. In ancient Latin, this popular boy’s name comes from the word Olivarius, meaning planter of olive trees. In French, Oliver is also linked to the olive and is pronounced Olivier.
Oliver was a popular name in the medieval period and is a boy’s name that never goes out of style. While there isn’t just one Oliver name meaning, this name is hundreds of years old but will never sound dated.
The name Oliver can be shortened in several ways. Common nicknames for Oliver include Ollie, Oly, and Ol.
- Oliver Name Origin: English/Norse/Latin
- Oliver Name Meaning: Ancestor’s descendant’s
- Pronunciation: Oli – Ver
- Gender: Male
How Popular is the Name Oliver?
The name Oliver was popular during the medieval period in England. However, by the 17th century, the boy’s name started to fall out of favor due to its association with the political leader, Oliver Cromwell. However, there was a resurgence in the 1800s and 1900s and the name remains popular today.
According to data from the Social Security Administration, Oliver ranked at number 135 in the year 1921. 100 years later, in 2021, Oliver ranked number 3 in the popularity chart and 14,616 baby boys were given the name that same year.
Variations of the Name Oliver
If you like Oliver but don’t feel like it is ‘the one’ for your baby, why not use one of these variations instead?
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Olivier | Olive tree | French |
| Oliwer | Look alike of olive plant | Polish |
| Olivio | Olive tree | Portuguese |
| Oliviero | Olive | Italian |
| Olivér | Olive tree | Hungarian |
Other Adorable English Boys Names
If you really want to give your baby boy a name with English origins, why not try one of these?
| Name | Meaning |
| Alfred | Wise counsel |
| Caldwell | Cold spring |
| Godric | God’s ruler |
| Kendrick | Royal power |
| Oscar | Friend |
| Brandon | Fiery hill |
| Bradley | Old meadow |
Alternative Boy Names Starting with ‘O’
Maybe a name starting with ‘O’ is more important to you than a name’s heritage and meaning. If so, one of the following boys’ names starting with ‘O’ might be the name you have been looking for.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Odis | Wealth | German |
| Odin | God of War | Norse |
| Ocean | Sea | Greek |
| Ori | My light | Hebrew |
| Oz | Powerful and courageous | Hebrew |
| Oxley | From the ox | English |
| Ori | Charitable king | India |
Famous People Named Oliver
Oliver is a name that has been popular for several centuries and this name of English origin has been given to several famous people over the years. Here is a list of some of the most famous Olivers in history:
- Oliver Cromwell – English political leader
- Oliver Stone – American director, actor, conspiracy theorist and writer
- Oliver Hardy – American comedic actor
- Oliver Reed – English actor
- Oliver Miller – American professional basketball player